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Kennewick Woman with Parkinson's to Have Photo She Took Featured in Calendar

- Dec 24 2013

A Kennewick photographer will have one of her photos featured in a calendar highlighting the creative work of people suffering from Parkinson's disease.

The photograph, Stone Feet, depicts Tina Lagonegro's own cramped feet, a symptom of the disease that causes twisting in her muscles, a release said.

The image will be featured in January in the 2014 Creativity and Parkinson's Calendar, which is distributed nationally by the Parkinson's Disease Foundation.

"By sharing my photographs, I want others, especially those who can relate emotionally and physically, to know they are not alone in their pain," said Lagonegro, 42, in the release.

Lagonegro, a mother of four, was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease at the age of 34. Most of those with the disease are diagnosed after the age of 50. She took up photography to help her cope with the emotional toll of the disease.

"When I was diagnosed with Parkinson's, a degenerative disease, I felt like I was losing a part of who I was," she said. "Being creative helps me feel alive again."

The calendar is part of the foundation's Creativity and Parkinson's Project, meant to explore, support and encourage, the therapeutic value of creativity in dealing with Parkinson's.

"Her photograph will not only raise awareness but serve as a source of hope to the nearly one million people in the U.S. living with the disease," said foundation president Robin Elliott.

People can receive the free calendar by contacting the foundation at (800) 457-6676 or by going to www.pdf.org/creativity.